Top

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics

Published in:

01-01-2014 | Epigenetics

Heterogeneous distribution of histone methylation in mature human sperm

Authors: Florenza A. La Spina, Marina Romanato, Santiago Brugo-Olmedo, Sabrina De Vincentiis, Vanina Julianelli, Rocio M. Rivera, Mariano G. Buffone

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

Purpose

To analyze the presence of various histone modifications in ejaculated human spermatozoa

Methods

In this prospective study, seminal ejaculates from 39 normozoospermic individuals were evaluated for semen analysis and the presence of histone modifications in isolated nuclei.

Results

We observed heterogeneous presence of histone methylation in normal mature human sperm. We observed that 12 to 30 % of the nuclei of normal sperm contain a heterogeneous distribution of the marks H3K4Me1, H3K9Me2, H3K4Me3, H3K79Me2, and H3K36Me3. Moreover, the presence of these marks is higher in the poor motile fraction of the ejaculate, which is associated with poor morphology and functional quality. In contrast, we did not observe histone acetylation (H3K4Ac and H4K5Ac) in normal or abnormal mature human sperm

Conclusions

Defects in the process of spermatogenesis may alter the correct epigenetic programing in mature sperm. Further studies are required to evaluate the impact of these findings in human infertility

Sasaki H, Matsui Y. Epigenetic events in mammalian germ-cell development: reprogramming and beyond. Nat Rev Genet. 2008;9(2):129–40.PubMedCrossRef

Oliva R, Dixon GH. Vertebrate protamine gene evolution I. Sequence alignments and gene structure. J Mol Evol. 1990;30(4):333–46.PubMedCrossRef

Kasinsky HE, Eirín-López JM, Ausió J. Protamines: structural complexity, evolution and chromatin patterning. Protein Pept Lett. 2011;18(8):755–71.PubMedCrossRef

Hammoud SS, Nix DA, Zhang H, Purwar J, Carrell DT, Cairns BR. Distinctive chromatin in human sperm packages genes for embryo development. Nature. 2009;460(7254):473–8.PubMedCentralPubMed

Hammoud SS, Nix DA, Hammoud AO, Gibson M, Cairns BR, Carrell DT. Genome-wide analysis identifies changes in histone retention and epigenetic modifications at developmental and imprinted gene loci in the sperm of infertile men. Hum Reprod. 2011;26(9):2558–69.PubMedCrossRef

Barratt C, Aitken RJ, Bjorndahl L, Carrell DT, de Boer P, Kvist U, et al. Sperm DNA: organization, protection and vulnerability: from basic science to clinical applications, a position report. Hum Reprod. 2010;25(4):824–38.PubMedCrossRef

Buffone MG, Doncel GF, Calamera JC, Verstraeten SV. Capacitation-associated changes in membrane fluidity in asthenozoospermic human spermatozoa. Int J Androl. 2009;32(4):360–75.PubMedCrossRef

Yebra L, Oliva R. Rapid analysis of mammalian sperm nuclear proteins. Anal Biochem. 1993;209(1):201–3.PubMedCrossRef

Bedford-Guaus SJ, McPartlin LA, Xie J, Westmiller SL, Buffone MG, Roberson MS. Molecular cloning and characterization of phospholipase C zeta in equine sperm and testis reveals species-specific differences in expression of catalytically active protein. Biol Reprod. 2011 Jul;85(1):78–88.

10.

Zahn A, Furlong LI, Biancotti JC, Ghiringhelli PD, Marijn-Briggiler CI, Vazquez-Levin MH. Evaluation of the proacrosin/acrosin system and its mechanism of activation in human sperm extracts. J Reprod Immunol. 2002;54(1–2):43–63.PubMedCrossRef

11.

Oliva R, Bazett-Jones DP, Locklear L, Dixon GH. Histone hyperacetylation can induce unfolding of the nucleosome core particle. Nucleic Acids Res. 1990;18(9):2739–47.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

12.

Buffone MG, Doncel GF, Marín Briggiler CI, Vazquez-Levin MH, Calamera JC. Human sperm subpopulations: relationship between functional quality and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Hum Reprod. 2004;19(1):139–46.PubMedCrossRef

13.

Glaser S, Lubitz S, et al. The histone 3 lysine 4 methyltransferase, Mll2, is only required briefly in development and spermatogenesis. Epigenetics Chromatin. 2009;2(1):5.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

14.

Turner JM, Mahadevaiah SK, et al. Silencing of unsynapsed meiotic chromosomes in the mouse. Nat Genet. 2005;37(1):41–7.PubMed

15.

WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, Cambridge University Press. 1999.

Title: Heterogeneous distribution of histone methylation in mature human sperm
Authors: Florenza A. La Spina
Marina Romanato
Santiago Brugo-Olmedo
Sabrina De Vincentiis
Vanina Julianelli
Rocio M. Rivera
Mariano G. Buffone
Publication date: 01-01-2014
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0137-4

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Heterogeneous distribution of histone methylation in mature human sperm

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2014

ISFP abstracts

Double-blind prospective study comparing two automated sperm analyzers versus manual semen assessment

Association between plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 gene mutation and different subgroups of recurrent miscarriage and implantation failure

Screening for Down syndrome in dichorionic twin pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF): a clinical pilot study to confirm the laboratory methods

The impact of supraphysiologic serum estradiol levels on peri-implantation embryo development and early pregnancy outcome following in vitro fertilization cycles

Efficacy of luteal phase support with vaginal progesterone in intrauterine insemination: a systematic review and meta-analysis